Interns in Action: Aaron Fellows ’16

June 29, 2015

Internship:City and Regional Planning for the International Economic Development Council in Washington, D.C. Majors: Environmental Studies, EconomicsHometown: Boston, Massachusetts

When I was 13, I moved from a rural community near Boston to the big city of Washington, D.C. It was a huge shift in my life, but I instantly became fascinated with the city and how all of its parts operated together. Since then, I’ve worked hard to understand how cities grow and develop, how businesses and residents choose where to locate, and how public policy guides the whole process. The field of urban planning seemed a natural fit for me.

This year, I learned that one of my neighbors used to work in the related field of economic development. She introduced me to a former colleague, and soon I found myself with an internship in city and regional planning for the International Economic Development Council.

IEDC is a nonprofit member organization that works with economic developers domestically and internationally to promote the economic health of their communities. During my internship, I’ve worked on manuals covering economic development topics, written articles for IEDC’s blog, and been involved with a project to help a county planning commission develop a downtown area. Most importantly, I’m learning what it means to be involved in urban development on a day-to-day basis, which is the experience I set out to gain.

Lewis & Clark has been a huge help to me in this internship. Much of what I’ve learned in my classes has been applicable to my work, whether directly or indirectly. The Career Development Center helped me apply for the Fowler-Levin Internship Grant that has covered some of my expenses. And the friends I’ve made as a student have provided assistance and support along the way.